Crime against businesses has risen as much as 16% in the hardest hit areas of the UK.
Insurer AXA's business crime index showed an overall rise of 3% and the company suggested the recession, as well as last summer's riots contributed to the increase.
With the most common crime against businesses being theft, the average value of claims for such offences has gone up 6% to just under £4,000.
Theft involving force or violence also grew by 6%.
Businesses in Halifax were affected worst with a 16% increase in crime rates over the last year.
AXA's Head of Customer Risk Management, Douglas Barnett said: "In a continued period of recession it is no surprise to see business crime levels rising, however what is most alarming for business owners is the increase in levels of violence associated with theft.
"This, coupled with the increase in value of the average theft suggests a more determined than opportunistic thief is emerging during hard financial times."
AXA, which insures around 25% of the UK's small and medium-sized businesses, added: "We would urge all businesses to do what they can to reduce the risk of becoming a victim - a big loss can be devastating for small businesses in both financial and emotional terms."
London, Leeds and Birmingham had the highest number of crimes against business on the index, but due to the concentration of businesses in these cities, they did not see the biggest percentage increases relatively.
Mr Barnett explained: "Geographically the areas that feature strongly in our top 10 show a close match to areas of the country that have been hit hard by the recession."
"It is a sad fact of life that in hard times, some people will turn to crime."
